title: Adverse reactions to equine-derived F(ab')2 -antivenin in 54 dogs envenomated by Vipera berus berus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the occurrence of acute and delayed adverse reactions following the administration of an equine-derived F(ab')2 -antivenin in dogs with Vipera berus berus envenomation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study (2006-2009).
  
  
  METHODS
  Private small animal clinics and university small animal teaching hospital in Norway.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four dogs with Vipera berus berus envenomation treated with F(ab')2 -antivenin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Administration of equine-derived antivenin for treatment of Vipera berus berus envenomation in dogs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acute adverse reactions to antivenin administration occurred in 4/54 dogs (7%), and facial swelling occurred in 2/54 dogs (4%), sudden respiratory distress in 1 dog, and vomiting occurred in 1 dog. The adverse reactions were self-limiting in 3 of the dogs, while 1 dog was treated with corticosteroids to reduce the facial swelling that occurred during administration of antivenin. No delayed adverse reactions believed to be associated with the antivenin administration were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An occurrence of adverse effects comparable to the numbers reported in human medicine (10%) should be expected when administering F(ab')2 -antivenin to dogs with Vipera berus berus envenomation. The results are also comparable with rates of adverse effects reported with antivenin administration for crotalid-envenomated dogs. Further research is required to determine whether there is a relationship between adverse and the number of vials administered or repeated use in the same patient.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Heidi S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kristiansen
authors.forename: Anna V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Eggertsdóttir
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skancke
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ranheim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000506:poisoning; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D017819:Viperidae / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D003435:Crotalid Venoms
keywords: adverse drug reaction; canine; viper envenomation